Sony XAV-70BT 7" In-Dash Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3 Receiver with Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned this unit for a week which included a roadtrip and I must say that this device is one of the greatest sound enhancing products I have bought for either my computer, tv, or car.
First I will say that I own a SUV with the stock system and stock speakers. I self installed the Sony xav-70bt, and I am a huge sony fan...so I am a little biased towards their products.Now on to the unit. After installation when you turn the unit on you get your first experience on how unbelievable the video is. I saw this unit in a store next to the new Pioneer flagship unit and the new Kenwood upper ranged double din unit (both costing over $1000) and there was no comparison in the contrast ratio or color quality. This unit truelly stands out as an in-dash unit with HD quality.
Now onto the sound. I have always done custom stereo/speaker units on all of my vehicles. I have replaced all the speakers in my old Jeep attached to a mediocre Aiwa amplifier and found that the quality of sound was just OK. One of the reasons I chose the sony xav-70bt was because of the many sound features this unit offers. Besides repeating the specs sony.com has I will say that the listening position feature when used correctly creates a surround sound experience that I feel compares to top of the line quality (and I have stock speakers!) The low pass and high pass features create crisp clean sound and low non distorting bass with all genres of music. What amazes me is that with the four speakers in the car the Xav creates this fifth "ghost" speaker in the middle of your car and when you close your eyes you will think that the speaker exists...its amazing.
Lastly on to the features. The usb connection does not list the fact that the unit will only play the first 2000 songs of that device. (My 32gb flash drive is useless after the first 4gb) This feature is just plain stupid if you ask me...and has not been advertised anywhere. As an alternative people that have ipods can play their full library through their ipod, but for anti-ipod-ites a Sony Mp3 player will also do the trick.
One of the surprises I got when opening the box was that there was an included microphone for the Bluetooth feature. Let me tell you that the extra money you spend for the BT over the Xav-60 is well worth the money. With cops stepping up their cell phone tickets a unit like this serves the purpose very well. During the roadtrip I was able to keep my phone in my pocket and talk and make calls with simple, and very intuitive buttons. Not only this, but the person on the other line doesn't even know im in my car...and I called a lot of people to test it...it works great. Actually better then great.
Overall..A++. This unit belongs in any music enthusiast who wants to enhance their car rides.


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Sony's XAV-70BT is offers competitive audio performance, wide connectivity and format support, simple controls, and striking video. Enjoy hands-free class and streaming audio with built-in Bluetooth, simple and intuitive control from the 7-inch touchscreen, direct control of your iPod, and so much more in this double-DIN unit.

6.1-Inch Display The double-DIN XAV-70BT features a motorized 7-inch WVGA TFT touch-screen display (with 17:9 aspect ratio), for great video and easy navigation of system features.
Bluetooth Functionality The XAV-70BT features Bluetooth hands-free with an integrated microphone (or through an external microphone), as well as audio streaming functionality using your compatible Bluetooth music device.
USB 1-Wire for iPod, iPhone, and Other USB Devices USB 1-Wire lets you directly connect, charge, and control your digital music player via the USB jack in the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display.
SensMe Intuitive Music Application With 12 tone analysis that keeps your music in tune with your mood, the unique SensMe application will automatically choose the mood of each song such as slow, fast, acoustic, electric, major, minor and so on. Depending on how you feel, the receiver will play songs by the mood that you have selected.
Multi-Channel Audio Enjoy multi-channel playback with Advanced Sound Engine featuring Center Speaker Optimizer (CSO) for virtual 5.1 processing and Intelligent Time Alignment (ITA).
Multi CODEC Playback Multi-format playback lets you play DVDs and CDs, along with MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, JPEG images, or MPEG-4 video.
Satellite and HD Radio Ready The XAV-70BT integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adaptors (sold separately) so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. HD Radio capability lets you receive digital audio broadcasts when used with an optional HD Radio tuner.
Sony EQ7 Further dial in your sound with this 7-band equalizer, featuring seven preset tone curves and individual level adjustments.
Power and Room to Grow The XAV-70BT delivers 52 Watts through four channels, and features 2V front/rear/sub preamp outputs. A built-in LPF (Low Pass Filter) and HPF (High Pass Filter) work to deliver overall better sound.
iPod Audio and Video The XAV-70BT supports iPod Audio/Video playback via the optional RC-200IPV iPod video cable. Hook it up and enjoy your iPod content anywhere, anytime.
Rear Camera Input Use the dedicated rear camera input for the optional XA-R800C, for convenience and added safety while in reverse.
What's in the Box Sony XAV-70BT Receiver, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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Sony XAV-62BT 6.1" In-Dash Double DIN DVD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth and iPod Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm still getting used to this one, so I'll update in a month or so and perhaps adjust my rating. But in the meantime...
Pros:
Excellent pre-amp audio quality.
Really good equalizer.
Excellent high-resolution touch screen.
Excellent, instantaneous Bluetooth connectivity.
Cons:
Runs INCREDIBLY hot, even when not using the onboard amps.
iPod/USB connector only on front.
It at first failed to see USB keys and iPods.
It (bizarrely) doesn't have separate front and rear pre-amp outs, so you lose the ability to fade. Surprisingly, I don't miss this.
Poor steering wheel control integration (probably not the Sony's fault).
Too much upfront lawyer-noise: it won't play anything until you promise you'll be good and never touch it (yes, Mom: I promise...)
I avoided Sony audio equipment for many years due to poor audio quality. But I recently put myself in the hands of Charles at Systems Unlimited in Redmond, WA. (The name is not a misnomer: when I arrived he had a brand-new Bentley in the shop, getting a truly unlimited system installed.) I was very surprised when he recommended this new deck, but I trusted him, and now trust him implicity: the Sony sits at the centre of a very high-end audio system, and doesn't embarrass itself. It takes line-level Apple Lossless output from my 160GB iPod, feeds it to a Genesis Profile 4 amp which in turn feeds ultra-clean watts into two sets of Focal speakers.
I was upgrading from a decent Pioneer head unit that had driven the Focals directly (because I busted my budget buying them). I expected an improvement; I did NOT expect such an utter transformation. I put my sneers-at-technology bagpipe-playing friend and girlfriend in the car and played a pibroch at a realistic volume level: I think I might have shut them up forever, but I won't be able to tell until they get their jaws back in place. My system now sounds better than easily 99.9% of cars on the road, and is so incredibly clean that listening fatigue doesn't exist.
The jury is still out on how well the Sony navigates the iPod. I ditched the Pioneer because I could spend five minutes drilling down from Music to (say) Postal Service, but if I then wanted to switch to the Pretenders, I had to drill down from Music again. 160 GB of music means an awful lot of drilling...
[Update: I'm starting to get an awful sinking feeling: this Sony seems to be just as stupid at navigating as my old Pioneer and in exactly the same way. What's saving its stars right now is that it also allows me to control the iPod directly, but I may yet knock another star off or even return it: the start-up screen of lawyer-noise is also getting annoying...]
My other big concern about the unit is how hot it runs. I'm going to see if it is possible to disconnect the internal amps altogether: without them, it'd probably only pull 10-20 watts.
(But my real BIG concern is that I so obviously now need an extreme subwoofer upgrade to match the rest of the system.)


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Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this unit for about a week now, and generally it's a pretty impressive unit. I also purchased the Pioneer GEX-P10HD HD Radio Tuner for Pioneer HD Radio-Ready Head Units, the Pioneer CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Wireless Adapter, and the Pioneer Car CDIU200V 2 Meter USB iPod Cable for AVH-P4100DVD.
Installation:
Installation for the product was generally clear. I am using the unit in a 1999 Nissan Altima. Had plenty of room for all three pieces either below the stereo or below the steering column.
AUX Inputs:
You'll need to buy an 1/8" headphone extension cable if you plan to use the aux input to connect to a normal player since the AUX input is in the back of the unit. You can also use a normal RCA stereo to 1/8" cable like for a home stereo as well. The unit accepts both and you can use them for different units, so you can have an ipod hooked up and another player at the same time.
Video Quality:
* Album covers from ipods are okay. A bit fuzzy, but okay.
* DVDs look awesome on this unit. Every bit of what you'd want. Plenty of control options. I have no complaints on this one.
* Color on the screen is bright and easy to read and selecting things on the screen is also easy. It's a senstive touch, so I never have to press hard. Most of the text is very large, so it's easy to read and select on the screen in a moving car. Has a clean look, will be impressive to passengers, but when off, nothing that makes it look fancy (in my ideal world hopefully that'll reduce theft potential). If you go to the Pioneer Electronics website, they have many more images of the screens. And the unit looks just as good in real life as it does in those pictures.
Sound Options:
* EQ is parametric, only three bands, but it allows you to choose what frequency and how many frequencies on either side of that one are affected. Provides enough flexibility if you may be used to a 7 or 10 band EQ like I am.
* Also, for external players, the feature that compensates for MP3 compressed audio is great. Really helps improve the sound from ipods.
* The Loudness feature has three intensity levels--quite helpful since on some units the difference between it being on and off can be crazy.
* The sub woofer settings allow you to choose the sub frequency you want to accent or reduce--assuming you have one with an external amplifier connected.
* Clock is only military time with no option to change it to am or pm. And it has a "just" option that drops the minutes and rounds the hours up or not. At least in the U.S., why would someone want to know a rounded hour. Not sure how that helps with anything.
Radio:
* The automatic station presets (BSM) only work in each preset group. Each group only has 6 options. So, you can't have it find the top 18 strongest signals. For example, if you use BSM setup for FM set 1, and then do the same for FM set 2, they have practically the same stations in them.
* HD radio is great, but when selecting presets, it doesn't insert the name of the station like it does with normal FM. All you see is P1, P2, etc. And I have yet to find a way to manually add it in. I don't expect to. If you use the HD unit, the normal radio functionality in the unit is disabled. You can still get the analog signals, it just works a little differently. It seems like they forgot to dot a few i's. But it switches back and forth between the analog signal and digital signal pretty well. With strong FM signals, I really can't tell much of a difference. Generally speaking, I probably wouldn't buy this item again if I had the choice. Most stations don't provide song title and artist information, plus most average stereos have that capability anyway. And on the display, what information is available from the station is really small and cluttered at the top while tremendous space is wasted in the main areas. Poorly thought out for such a excellently featured unit.
* AM stations don't come in well. When they come in, they sound great. It basically acts like a digital signal, so it either comes in and out quickly so you can't catch the words, doesn't come in at all, or it's on perfectly. When perfectly, it sounds much better than a normal stereo. My guess is that there's a processor in the unit that tries to clean up the signal. But as a result, weaker signals are simply cut off. You can't turn this feature off. Pretty tough since AM signals are so weak in the first place. My last stereo was much better. AM HD certainly sounds better, but it requires a stronger signal than the analog AM. So, it doesn't help you either.
iPod Controls:
* iPod controls work just like on the ipod except the scroll wheel action. In playlists, you can't see title and artist together. It also truncates titles and shows only 5 at a time. It's hard to find artists on the screen if you have a lot and scrolling is time consuming. There's really nothing special with this feature. It's better on the ipod because you can use the scroll action. The stereo allows you to use the ipod to select songs instead if you want. I didn't find any significant bugs when using this feature.
* The unit allows you to play videos from your iPod or iTouch if you have video capability. I have a 5th generation ipod video (The stereo does have requirements as to what ipods can be used. Basically if you have one manufactured in the last two to three years, you'll be fine.). I used DVDFab's software on a PC to convert my DVDs to a format for the ipod. But for some reason, the videos wouldn't play via the stereo like they should. I have the same problem on exercise units with the same feature. It's probably a problem with my encoding. Just know you may have some adjustments to make. I haven't bought a video from iTunes yet. I'd assume the videos would work just fine then.
Parked Requirement:
* I found a way around the parking brake requirement like a couple other reviewers. It is as simple as connecing the parking brake lead to a switch and the switch to the car chasis. The switch will have to be on (i.e. grounded) when you start your car. Then you'd switch it off and then on again. Most product descriptions on sites about this unit talk about it blocking DVDs, but if you don't hook it up at all, it actually blocks other features in the unit as well, such as changing the display intensity and setting up the bluetooth module. Even after you engage the "parking brake", there is a compliance screen prior to watching a DVD that requires you to press OK saying you're parked. It's good they do that. They shouldn't be liable in an accident caused by us going around their system and watching a DVD or trying to dial a number while driving. By going around their system, we are certainly fully responsible for the consequences.
Bluetooth Capability:
* It allows you to dump your phonebook into the unit if your phone has that option. Wasn't too hard to do that on my Treo 700p. The microphone sounded great on the piece and callers through the stereo sounded ok. I wouldn't say it's clear, but not much better than what you hear through your cellphone. The unit disables the EQ, however. So, you're stuck with the default cellphone sound. The only thing you can do is balance the signal volume with the other equipment, which for the Treo is unnecessary since you can control that on the unit.
Backgrounds:
* The default set of background options are really good, except for the animated versions. They are very pixelated--very poor quality. The are still pretty cool, though. I still use one of them for some sources.
Summary:
Overall, I'm glad I bought the unit. The radio shortcomings and ipod clumsiness are pretty big ones for me. But considering the price here on Amazon vs. other options in the same price range, I still would have bought the unit again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

Introducing the Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with 7-inch Widescreen Display, including DVD Video, DivX, MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC playback, iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V Required), and Bluetooth Adapter Ready (CD-BTB200 Required).
Now Playing In A Dash Near You This is what Drive-In Movies were supposed to be. Audio/Video players improve on CD Players by adding a nice large touch screen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

Widen Your Horizons With a 15 percent larger display that the AVH-P3100DVD, the AVH-P4100DVD's motorized display hides the CD slot, allowing you to enjoy all of your Audio/Video content on the full-color 7-inch screen.
iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Touch slide scrolling, Alphabetical Hi-Speed Search, Album Art, and improved Link Search make it easy to find your music.
Bring Your Music To Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch panel display, you can fastforward and rewind Audio/Video content (Note: Touchslide Fastforward/Rewind function not available on iPod).
Now It's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illumination to match car interior lighting, color, and design. You can even set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB Device.
Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call (Note: Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required).
What else does this model have to offer? The AVH-P4100DVD also includes additional features like built-in AUX input for your media devices. Features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
3 RCA Hi-Volt pre-outs for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Play your MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC from CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, or USB Device.
Built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion and efficient power handling.
Supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing assure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.
What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Sony DSXS200X digital media receiver with iPod Direct Control via USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The iPod that I used testing this receiver was the newest generation iPod Classic 160gb.
---UPDATE---
What is the difference between the s200x and s300BTX? Nothing in appearance, or sound. They are the exact same thing except the s300BTX has bluetooth, that is it.
---UPDATE---
Here is my situation (this may similar to yours):
I wanted a new car stereo that:
1.
----Controlled the iPod while bypassing the internal iPod DAC---- (Digital Audio Converter)
- which, in newer models (basically everything past the iPod Video 5.5g), has an inferior Cirrus chip (much discussed about with loss of quality outputting your media sound files). The s200x has a 24-bit DAC that outputs a life like sound quality (testing with ALAC--apple lossless) that just does this. More on this point: if you want your car stereo to bypass iPod's DAC (a must for any audiophile, or for the absolute best sound quality), then you will have to control the iPod through the stereo itself. Moreover, if you want to use your iPod/iPhone as a controller, you can just insert the USB sync cable into the front of the Sony. However, if you use the latter method, you will no longer be using the DAC bypass, resulting in lower quality audio from the DAC of the iPod/iPhone.
2. Almost as important as #1, and directly ties into above:
----A fairly intuitive navigation of the iPod through the receiver----.
The s200x loads up almost instantaneous (possibly 1 or 2 seconds), and changes tracks even quicker. Actually, it feels quicker using this receiver than it does using the iPod itself. Moreover, you can control everything, and I mean everything, from the remote. This helps because the dial in the middle of this unit is hard to press, and harder to press correctly (meaning, in the absolute middle). It navigates just like the iPod does through its own program. You can also search by Letter, so that you can limit tedious scrolling.
3. Again, as important as the above two:
----The ability to see the display in daylight----
Although sunlight directly on this device does saturate the brightness a bit, it does not enough so that you cannot read the display. More succinctly: when exposed to direct light, the whites are not as white and the blacks are not as deep, however the most important aspect still retains: The Display is readable in daylight.
4.
----Having a fairly sophisticated EQ. ----
Much to the chagrin of Alpine's x305s, this device lets you fine tune your sound environment within your car, without buying two hundred dollars worth of extra equipment, while not being inferior in sound. Yes, the Alpine has the Burr-Brown (name brand) DAC. Will you tell the difference if your sound files are converted, ripped, or compressed well? No.
So while you get nothing from Alpine without extra money when wanting to tailor your sound, the s200x from Sony will let you adjust Time Delay from your speakers (adjusted for the distance you are away from each speaker), the full spectrum of frequencies (low, mid, high), and your speaker's ability to either act as a subwoofer, or not (have 6x9's in your back seat but no independent sub? The s200x will let you turn those speakers into a sub, and a sub only).
5. And finally, not as important, but still a constituent with the s200x:
----Price----
Needless to say, you cannot go wrong with the features, and quality, of the s200x for well under 200$. Alpine's color display? Not much more than a low resolution LCD screen (the navigation and presentation of the s200x is much more fluid and appropriate).
What is more is that the 'iPod Tray' that I am sure you have read about, is a must, and a new standard. It is as ingenious as it is innovative. In light of the plethora of hanging 'USB' cables plaguing many a car, the Sony is like going completely wireless.
Oh, if you have not already figured it out by now this DOES NOT comes with a CD player. Hence the 'Digital Media Receiver' title. However, with the iPod tray, your Media Player takes it seat appropriately where a CD player would have went. Needless to say, you have never had a CD player that could play, or have access to, in less than a second, 20,000 lossless quality music files.
As I was looking around at every available receiver on the market, each one had a downside. Alpine did not offer anything to adjust the sound (except if you...ya know), Kenwood's controls were awful (which was the receiver I was replacing), and Pioneer did not offer a 24bit DAC and/or navigation was sluggish. With all of those features lacking in every other device, I, in a moment of serendipity, happened to discover the s200x.
What will your receive with the Sony S200x? Exactly what you want, and nothing less.


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The DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver by Sony features a USB Tune Tray that connects and stores your iPod behind the sleek flip-down faceplate, eliminating visible wires. A second front USB input allows you to connect additional devices4. Plus, the DSX-S200X boasts innovative audio technology features like Advanced Sound Engine to create the ideal in-car sound experience.

Dynamic Sound
Flip-down Face with Front USB Input The large 4-line OEL display makes it easy to read song information and the front USB 1-wire input lets you connect, control and charge your iPod, iPhone, Walkman player or other compatible USB device.

Integrated Tune Tray The Tune Tray compartment lets you easily connect, control and charge your iPod, Walkman player or other compatible music devices via the USB 1-Wire input. Your player is secured inside, eliminating unsightly and distracting wires.

Dual USB 1-Wires Inputs Features dual USB 1-Wire inputs for iPod, Walkman player and other compatible music devices. Directly connect, charge, and control your compatible digital music player via the USB jack in internally and in the front of unit.

Intuitive Search Features Use Quick-BrowZer feature to find music by artist, album, genre, song or playlist. Jump Mode allows you to fast forward through a category in 10% increments while the ZAPPIN feature can play a 6, 9, or 30 second intro clip to help you find a specific song.

SensMe Application Music Channels SensMe application can organize your music into playlists that perfectly match your mood, scene and location, making it easier to choose the music that fits the moment.

Advanced Sound Engine The Advanced Sound Engine uses EQ7 equalizer, adjustable LPF/HPF crossovers, Listener Position calibration, DM+ advanced sound restoration, Rear Bass Enhancer, and Dynamic Loudness volume leveler to create an ideal in-car listening environment.

High-Powered Expansion Whether using the internal 52W x 4 high power amplifier for your speakers or the 4 Volt Front, Rear and Sub RCA preamp outputs to feed an external amplifier, you can dial in the output for optimum sound.

Wireless Remote/Illumination The included wireless remote lets you control the basic functions of your DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver while keeping your eyes on the road. Selectable blue or red key illumination compliments vehicle interior lighting.

Satellite Radio/HD Radio Ready The DSX-S200X integrates seamlessly with Satellite Radio and HD Radio using Sony Bus adaptors so you can receive digital satellite radio or HD Radio broadcasts.

Radio Data System Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to compatible AM/FM stations.

What's in the Box
DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver, RM-X172 Wireless Remote, XA-50IP USB Connector for iPod, Installation Hardware, User's Manual, Installation Manual

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Pioneer SPH-DA01 AppRadio 6.1-Inch In-Dash Double-Din AV Receiver for iPod and iPhone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was so pumped for this product when I first saw the announcement for it a little over a month ago. Now that I have it and have spent the past 3 days using it I can safely say it has been a huge letdown. I really wanted it to work as well, I tried my hardest to see past all the issues, but there are so many and they interfere so heavily with the usability I couldn't. For that reason I'm returning it. I'll detail the specifics individually further down.
First, the idea itself was a great one. One I am convinced would have worked if it were not for the buggy software and the slow interface. It feels as if the product was rushed to market before it was thoroughly tested and tweaked. The line between great product and horrid one is thin here and this one missed the mark for myself. Also, I didn't count off for this as I was fully aware of it going in, but am posting it as an FYI to future less informed buyers. This product turns into a mediocre radio without an iPhone 4. It has no other input and will be a waste of $400 if you don't have one or don't plan on keeping yours for a while once you get the radio. I can't stress this enough, without an iPhone this radio is a few steps from useless.
Install & setup:
This was par for the course as far as any radio is concerned. I mounted the GPS antenna on the dash and the mic by my sun-visor. More than enough cable for both tasks. I am unsure if I could have gotten the GPS antenna to my back window, but it would have been tight. All other items installed like you would expect any aftermarket radio.
Hardware:
The fit and finish of the actual hardware is good. The microphone and GPS antenna look and feel like they are quality items and will last a while. As noted before the cable length for both was ample for installing on the dash/sun-visor. I can't say if I could have gotten the antenna to my back window, but it would have been tight if I had tried. The multitouch screen feels like an iPhone on the surface, although the software on the device causes issues with usability that will be detailed below. My screen had a single dead pixel that stuck out like a sore thumb when the screen was all black or displaying a dark color. The "home" button and volume buttons from a hardware perspective felt quality. The iPhone connection cable is unnecessarily thick and heavy. Although it feels like it will last it is too cumbersome to be comfortably used. As noted before there are no inputs for anything other than an iPhone and as discussed in other reviews only a single set of RCA outs. I did not degrade the rating for this as I knew this before I bought it.
Software/Processor:
This is where the unit really fails. It is extremely slow and the software is buggy. Several times (4-5) in the 3 days I have used it the unit has completely frozen, would not respond to any input what-so-ever. The only fix for this was to shut my car off for several seconds and start it back up. The software is also very, very slow. It takes 45 seconds to even become responsive after my car is turned on. When switching between screens there is a lag of between 5 to 30 seconds. It gets frustrating when you press a button several times after no response only to have 3-4 clicks register at the same time 4-5 seconds later, this happens quite a bit when changing volume. This appears to be a combination of the software and a slower processor than is needed. I am unsure if a more efficient software update could solve this issue as it is so bad now.
Radio:
The radio performed as you would expect. All was decently peppy except changing between bands. This took 10-15 seconds a band, there are 3 FM bands and 2 AM bands. So going from FM1 to AM1 can take 45 seconds as you press band, wait 15 seconds, press it again, wait 15 more and so on. Programming favorite stations was very easy, however the autoprogram button was right by the band switch button. I twice wiped out my presets after I hit this as it goes without confirmation if you touch it.
iPod:
This functioned well. The only major annoyance here was having to use arrows to scroll through songs/artists. The familiar slide your finger to scroll as you would on the iPhone was not here. The lag in the device between hitting the down arrow and seeing it moved often caused me to scroll past the artist/song I was looking for.
Phone/Bluetooth:
I never got in the phone app directly after the first few times. As hitting the phone button on the radio stops any music from playing before you dial, and once you do press this button you have to exit the radio app and relaunch the music app from your iPhone. For instance, if I'm listening to pandora and hit the "Home" button, pandora continues to play as expected, but once I press phone, before I have even decided who to dial the music stops, so it is silent until I find the contact and dial them, hang up, exit the app, and relaunch pandora. The workaround is to use your phone to scroll through your contacts and dial. This pauses the music only when you start the actual call, and resumes it as soon as it is over. The phone interface is also very slow. You have to use a button to scroll through contacts one page at a time, which takes 4-5 seconds to switch pages. I ended up using the phone to place every call after trying it through the actual radio. The bluetooth works OK. Most everyone I talked to asked me if I was on speakerphone as they could hear ample amounts of background noise. Also every call I placed that was over 8-9 minutes developed a serious echo, sometimes with a 1-2 second lag. I speculate this was due to the processor falling behind but am unsure.
Individual apps:
Next I'll go over individual apps. This was the most exciting thing about the radio as it makes it ever expanding as more apps come to support it. One needs to remember that the radio doesn't really run any apps, it just offers a second display for, and a way of interacting with, apps on your iPhone. Most of the complaints about the apps have to do with the responsiveness of the radio, not really the app as when I used them without the radio, all the interface challenges went away. The phone plays more of a critical role in controlling the radio than I hoped. Things such as switching apps, entering a destination in the GPS, or looking in your ohone book without killing the music has to be done on the phone. Also the reviewer that noted you can't use more than one app at once was partially mistaken. For instance I can start pandora music, then switch to motionx drive and the pandora music still plays, but to do anything other than change the track, I have to close motionx and open pandora from the phone itself.
Pioneer App Radio App - This appears to be more of a "proof of concept" app than anything useful. First the vehicle has to be in park to use it. It allows you to access your iPhone calendar, Photo's, Google maps, as well as launch the supported apps on the device. There is really no use I could find for it, doing all the mentioned was much faster and easier using the iPhone. The reviewer who said this app must be running was mistaken. All supported apps can be launched directly from the iphone without ever using it.
Pandora - This is probably the most polished app currently available on the device. I had very little issues with this app, other than the slowness of the interface.
MotionX Drive - This app is handy, but the radio offers little more than a remote display for the GPS. The only functions you can do on the radio are resizing and changing the orientation on the map (using buttons, not multi-touch like on the iPhone). All other input had to be done via the phone, a fact that could arguably be more dangerous than using the radio. No multitouch moving or resizing of the map as in other apps. There was little difference noted in position accusation time between the phone being plugged in and not. For that reason I am unsure if the GPS antenna was helping much. Although skies were clear, it could have shown its usefulness during an overcast day.
INRIX Traffic - A pretty useful app, it supports multi touch and moving of the map as it does on the iphone. Although extreme slowness was noted here as well.
Netflix/Hulu - Both worked as you would expect if you plugged your phone into a monitor. The radio only acts as a remote monitor for viewing video, all control is on the phone for both apps. The vehicle has to be in park to use them.
rdio - Did not use, can't offer review.
In conclusion the idea was solid and I feel could still be a good one. However, the software and performance issues were too much for me to overcome right now. I would strongly caution anyone who was thinking about buying this. That was the reason for the long review I did is had I known all the above, I would not have bought the radio.

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Pioneer AVH-P3200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I hadn't installed car electronics in ages, and just decided it was time to replace the factory stereo in my 2002 Toyota Highlander. I was sick and tired of juggling with the lousy sound and wires all over the place, cassette adapter, iPhone charger, Sirius radio... it was time for an upgrade. With Amazon running a sale on Pioneer car audio, it seemed it was time to jump. In the process, I learned a few things that I hope will help you make the right decisions.TIPS
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1) Pioneer sells a $35 "Double DIN install kit". I'm sure it's needed in some cars, but the 3200 was a perfect drop-in in my Highlander, at least as far bolting it to the equipment chassis. The screw holes are exactly in the same place as on the Denso factory double DIN stereo it replaced,.
2) Getting a wire bundle adapter (available from Amazon, cost is under $10) simplifies the installation tremendously and makes it easy to put the original stereo back in. It's basically a connector that looks like the one on the factory stereo and has a color coded bundle of wires attached. You solder or crimp these wires to the bundle that comes with your new stereo and you're in business: it's now a perfect drop in substitute for the factory stereo. The bundle adapter is specific to your car, not the stereo you're installing.
3) Lock-out of some features (movie playing, phone number pad dialing...) is done by detecting the state of the parking brake. If you don't connect the parking brake wire, you will not be able to use these features, ever. Of course if you were a bad person you would just attach this wire to the ground somewhere, which would disable the lock-out. I'm just sayin.
4) Why are there so many iPod cables for this family of receivers? It's infuriating! There's the CD-IU50, the CD-IU50V, and the CD-IU200V. The IU50 is just a very expensive iPod/iPhone USB cord like the one that came with your iPhone. Despite what its description says on the Amazon page, it will not provide video. The IU50V will play video from the iPod (it has a USB jack and also a minijack for the video, which both plug into the front). The IU200V is similar to the IU50V but is for the 4200DVD only (according to the manual). If you want to play video from your iPhone on the 3200BT or 3200DVD, get the IU50V.
5) There's a hideous gap of 3/4" to the left and right of the receiver, and a smaller one at the top and bottom. Once again, Scosche to the rescue; they make an inexpensive kit that fills the gap. It was harder to find than I would have hoped.
Now that this is out of the way, how about performance and ease of use? Well, here goes.
PROS
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- Sounds great, lots of equalization options, easy to configure, lots of power.
- Great user interface, very responsive and easy to use.
- Displays all songs in iPhone (I used with iPhone 4), allows browsing by artist, record, song, even displays the album artwork!
- PACKED with features (supports rear view camera, second zone video, HD radio, Sirius/XM, etc...)
- Customizable theme
- Plays DiVX
- Bluetooth phone feature very easy to setup and works like a charm. Loaded the contact list from my iPhone 4 in seconds, and people I have been talking to can't believe I'm using a hands free system in a car, it's just that good.
- Convenient USB and A/V inputs in front.
- Convenient SD memory card reader
- Charges iPod/iPhone during use. You can still use your iPhone while music is playing.
- Available AVIC-U220 navigation option
CONS
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- Screen washes out in sunlight and can get very hard to read
- Must use front connector for iPod/iPhone, so leaving a discrete connector permanently plugged in is not an option with the 3200BT model.
- No stereo bluetooth, if you need that get the AVH-P3200DVD and purchase the pricey CD-BTB200 option
- Remote control is optional
- Options are prohibitively expensive (Navigation, Bluetooth for 3200DVD and Sirius satellite radio options cost way too much)
CONCLUSION
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Love, love, love this receiver. It's a lot of functionality for the price, easy to install, easy to use, iPod integration is top-notch, and the minor flaws don't really warrant not giving it the five stars it deserves, considering its very reasonable price. Highly recommended.

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Get your media on the road with Pioneer's AVH-P3200BT, an in-dash double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver featuring built-in Bluetooth and a 5.8-inch widescreen display. With versatile music and video playback, modern features like USB Direct Control and DivX support, a built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier, and plenty of expansion options--not to mention the ability to make and receive calls--it's the perfect way to turn your vehicle into a mobile entertainment center.


AVH-P3200BT Features
Built-In Bluetooth The AVH-P3200BT features built-in Bluetooth technology, which allows you to take incoming calls through your vehicle's sound system. Connecting your Bluetooth-enabled phone is a snap, and gives you access to all your contacts. Best of all, you can make or take a call without a headset.
5.8-Inch Touchscreen Display The AVH-P3200BT boasts a 5.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display with 1440 x 240 pixel resolution. Navigating your media and system settings from the touchscreen is a breeze thanks to intuitive touch controls and customizable menus. Tap, Swipe or Drag--exactly the way you expect a touchscreen device to work.
Versatile Multimedia Playback Enjoy your favorite DVDs while parked with the full-featured DVD player, or add a back seat screen for your passengers to watch as you drive. The AVH-P3200BT will play DVDs, DVD-Rs, Video CDs and even DivX files burnt to CD or DVD (or from a USB device). You can also use the rear A/V input to attach external devices like video game systems.
As for music, you can enjoy your favorite CDs, or listen to MP3/WMA/AAC files from either CD/DVD data discs or a USB device.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio files or DivX video. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P3200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Advanced Sound Retriever Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files stored on USB memory device, iPod and portable digital players. By restoring data (especially higher frequencies) that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever technology enhances audio reproduction nearly all the way up to 20 kHz frequencies.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
Dial in Your Sound Use and customize EQ curves, adjust the eight-band parametric equalizer, or change loudness and bass boost settings to get the perfect sound.
AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the AVH-P3200BT has this A/V input on the front panel.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
Rear View Camera Capability Keep an eye on your backside using the optional Rear View Camera (ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA): while you're in reverse the rear-view camera can be in full screen.An unit equipped with the optional rear-view camera adds a level of safety and assurance you can rely on.In addition to keeping you and your family safe, this feature also makes maneuvering in tight spaces easier.
Ready to Expand The AVH-P3200BT is also compatible with Pioneer's XM and Sirius satellite radio tuners, HD radio tuner, TV tuner, CD/DVD changers and more.
AVH-P3200BT Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P3200BT Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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